Department Quicklinks
24 Hour Phone Response:
CAPS has mental health staff available for consultation 24 hours a day by phone.
To reach a CAPS staff member call:
(530) 752-0871
COUNSELING SERVICES
As a student you may encounter a variety of pressures and demands which can create stress, impair your academic performance, or affect your sense of well being. Seeing a professional or peer counselor can be of help in assisting you to clarify issues and explore options. CAPS offers a variety of counseling services to help you realize your academic and personal goals while at UC Davis.
Eligibility for Counseling Services
CAPS provides short-term counseling at no cost to UC Davis registered students. The service you receive is based upon a determination of your therapeutic goals and CAPS resources. If CAPS is unable to meet your goals, referral resources will be identified for you.
Our Services are Confidential
CAPS staff adhere to state laws and ethical standards which require that all client information is held in confidence. To provide effective service, your therapist may discuss your case with other CAPS staff (i.e. their supervisors or colleagues). Also, CAPS staff may consult with medical staff at Cowell Student Health Center according to state law for discretionary disclosure to qualified medical providers as needed for diagnosis and treatment. All confidential client information will be disclosed to others only with your written consent or in accordance with state law and University policy. State law requires that health and mental health professionals reports certain situations, such as suspicion of child or elder abuse, or serious danger to self or others.
To Schedule an Appointment
To schedule an appointment for initial consultation, please call CAPS (752-0871) during regular office hours. This initial intake appointment will help you clarify your counseling needs and direct you to appropriate services.
Students who have an urgent need to receive counseling services can come in to CAPS and will be seen as soon as possible.
If you are unable to keep an appointment, please call Reception to cancel 24 hours in advance. If staff cannot keep an appointment with you, Reception will attempt to contact you.
Individual Counseling
CAPS provides free, confidential, short-term therapy to registered UCD students. The initial appointment will help clarify your needs and direct you to appropriate services. If short-term individual counseling is recommended, an appointment will be made with a staff member as soon as possible.
Group Counseling
CAPS offers a variety of groups to deal with issues such as: stress management, eating & body image concerns, self-esteem, & relationships with others. There are also support groups that provide a place to discuss common issues faced by particular groups of students like athletes or 1st generation college students.
Some groups may run the entire academic year, but most groups run for only one quarter. There is no cost to attend CAPS groups. You have already paid for them with your student registration fees. Click here for the current groups listing. Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
Eating Disorder Services
This page is designed to provide education and resources, as well as promote awareness about eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. Eating issues and disorders are important to discuss given the possible serious emotional and physical consequences associated with eating disorders.
Signs of stress vary from person to person, but often show themselves in a number of different areas. If you have noticed a change in your ability to function effectively in one or more of the following areas, you might be experiencing a significant level of stress:
• Physical
• Emotional
• Intellectual/mental
• Relational
• Spiritual
• Academic/occupational
Below is a list of some common stress and anxiety symptoms.
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Worrying
• Racing thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness
• Being easily fatigued
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Digestive/stomach problems
• Shallow breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Jaw clenching
• Shaking/trembling
• Confusion
• Isolation/withdrawal
• Irritability/anger
• Getting sick often
• Bouts of crying
• Panic
• Nervousness
• Discomfort in social settings
• Burn-out
• Feeling lost
Caps Offers the Following Services:
• Individual evaluation
• Brief individual psychotherapy
• Psychiatric consultation and medication evaluation
• Brief psycho-educational groups through the Stress & Wellness Clinic
• Referral for long-term individual psychotherapy and individual inpatient treatment programs
• Consultation to faculty, staff and students
• Educational programs (incl. Wellness Wednesday workshops)
• Referral and coordination of treatment with health providers at Cowell Student Health Center
• You can schedule an intake with a Stress & Wellness Clinic counselor from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday at CAPS, 219 North Hall, or for an appointment, call 752-0871.
Other Campus Resources:
• Cowell Student Health Center
• The House
• Residence Halls
• Wellness Center
The House Offers the Following Confidential Services:
• Brief peer counseling
• Referral assistance
• Use of the Mind-Body Gym (relaxation area for student use)
• Educational programs
For services at The House, (TB 16) across from Regan Hall, call (530) 752-2790
Counseling Center Resources on Stress: http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/vpc.html
Helpguide.org: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.html
Bourne, E. J. (2005). The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (4th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Davis, M., Eshelman, E. R., & McKay, M. (2000). The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (5th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. New York: Hyperion.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Random House.
Stress Reduction Services
Behavioral Medicine Clinic at Cowell Student Health Center
The Behavioral Medicine Program specializes in the evaluation and treatment of
- normally high functioning individuals who do not have a psychiatric illness but who manifest stress-related physiologic problems in response to situational and developmental stress;
- individuals whose psychological problems manifest primarily in physical complaints.
CAPS and Cowell health/mental health providers work collaboratively and consult regularly to provide students effective services.
Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services at UCD main campus are currently provided by board certified psychiatrists.The main services provided are assessment and followup visits for students needing psychiatric medications. Registered UCD students are eligable for services with a professional referral (ex. from therapists or medical providers),and are treated at offices located at Cowell Student Health Center. There is close laison between psychiatry and both professional staffs at CAPS and Cowell Student Health.
Career Counseling
CAPS provides individual career counseling and refers students to career exploration groups at the Internship and Career Center.